State animal of Uttarakhand – Complete detail – updated

State animal of Uttarakhand – Complete detail – updated. Description of state animal of Uttarakhand. Name of state animal of Uttarakhand is Musk deer. Habit and habitat of musk deer. They prefer meadows, shrub lands and fir forests on high altitude plateaus above 2000 meters.

The weight of adult White-bellied musk deer is between 11 to 18 kg. Head to body length measures about 80 to 100 cm. They are about 35 to 50 cm high at the shoulder. They are shy and secretive in nature, and hide in the dense forest cover during the day.

They come out at night into open areas and graze till dawn. Antlers are absent in White-bellied musk deer, but they have a pair of tusks that project out of their mouths. The maximum length of these tusks is about 10 cm. The tusks break easily, but growth is continuous. The forelimbs are short and thin compared to the longer, more muscular rear limbs. They have long, rounded and sharp ears. They have black eyes. The curved posture of the spine, legs and larger rear mean that, rather than running, this agile deer leaps with a distinctive, bounding gait……………..

Breeding season is between November to July. During the breeding season, the male produces musk, which mixed with its urine, has a pink color and strong smell that is believed to attract and stimulate the female to begin oestrus. Males also fight each other over females during this season.

Distinctive Identification

White-bellied musk deer is a Schedule – I animal, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN.

The weight of adult White-bellied musk deer is between 11 to 18 kg. Head to body length measures about 80 to 100 cm. They are about 35 to 50 cm high at the shoulder.

The color of stocky body is dark sandy brown or dark brownish gray with a white yellow strip from the throat to the chin. The ventral side of their bodies ranges from gray to white. Males being slightly darker than females.

Young fawns is speckled with white spots, but as they mature these spots disappear, although adults retain two white spots on the neck.

Antlers are absent in White-bellied musk deer, but they have a pair of tusks that project out of their mouths. The maximum length of these tusks is about 10 cm. The tusks break easily, but growth is continuous.

The forelimbs are short and thin compared to the longer, more muscular rear limbs. They have long, rounded and sharp ears. They have black eyes.

The curved posture of the spine, legs and larger rear mean that, rather than running, this agile deer leaps with a distinctive, bounding gait.

They have a musk and a caudal gland. The musk gland attracts females during mating season, and the caudal gland is used to mark territory. Uniquely, the females have a single pair of mammae. They have well-developed dew claws, broad toes that provide increased stability on steep slopes.

Classification

Common Name – White-bellied musk deer

Local Name – kasturi mrig

Zoological Name – Moschus leucogaster

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Mammalia

Order – Cetartiodactyla

Family – Moschidae

Genus – Moschus

Conservational Status – Schedule – I, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN.

Distribution

They found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal. In India, they found in Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

Habit and habitat

They prefer meadows, shrub lands and fir forests on high altitude plateaus above 2000 meters. They are very well adapted for high altitudes. They have well-developed dew claws, broad toes that provide increased stability on steep slopes.

White-bellied musk deer has a waxy substance called Musk, that the male secrets from a gland in the abdomen. Musk is used to mark territories and attract females during the breeding season. Musk is also used in the manufacture of perfumes, soap and medicines.

White-bellied musk deer is a herbivores animal, they feed on various types of grasses, leaves, flowers, mosses and lichens. They are solitary and either nocturnal or crepuscular animals.

They are shy and secretive in nature, and hide in the dense forest cover during the day. They come out at night into open areas and graze till dawn.

Males scent-mark their territories by rubbing their tail gland against trees and stones, only allowing females to enter their range. They communicate with each other through smell. Primarily silent, musk deer will emit a loud double hiss if alarmed and may scream plaintively if wounded.

Weaker males will not attempt to enter the territory of a stronger male, but on occasions that they do, fighting may ensue.

Breeding season is between November to July. The age of sexual maturity is between 14 to 24 months.

During the breeding season, the male produces musk, which mixed with its urine, has a pink color and strong smell that is believed to attract and stimulate the female to begin oestrus. Those with a good smell will attract the females and mate with them. Males also fight each other over females during this season.

Females usually give birth to a single young, sometimes 2 fawns are born. Gestation period is between 170 to 198 days. For the first two months after birth, the young fawn hides in the undergrowth and suckles from the mother. The fawn are fully independent after six months.